Ethanol May Help Japan Reach 50% GHG Reduction Target, Study Says

Oct 26, 2016

From Governor's Biofuels Coalition www.governorsbiofuelscoalition.org

A significant portion of US-produced corn ethanol will likely meet Japan’s 50% greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction threshold over petrol, a recently released US Grains Council (USGC) study finds.

The study, USGC says, supports the case for ethanol’s competitiveness and sustainability compared to other fuel sources.

The results will help the USGC and its industry partners dispel “myths” about US ethanol and help make the case for opening the door for US ethanol in the Japanese market.

In particular, the USGC hopes the study will help show key Japanese government officials and industry stakeholders that US corn ethanol meets Japan’s rigorous international sustainability requirements.

The ongoing efficiency improvements in corn ethanol production, an increased number of co-products, and improvements in US corn cultivation practices have resulted in significant reductions in ethanol’s GHG life cycle emissions and are widening its environmental advantage over petroleum, according to the study authored by Steffen Mueller, principal economist at the University of Illinois at Chicago Energy Resources Center, and Stefan Unnasch, managing director of Life Cycle Associates.

Japan has put into place a requirement that all biofuels must reduce GHG emission by 50%, and Japanese regulators will decide whether or not to include US corn ethanol in Japan’s biofuel policy in the spring of 2017 for implementation in 2018.

The information in the new study will be critical, USGC says, to showing Japanese policymakers and industry that they can supply their ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) needs using US corn ethanol as a component in its production.

Currently, only sugarcane ethanol, largely from Brazil, meets Japanese standards developed ten years ago.

“As one of the world’s largest fuel markets and a major user of ETBE, it would greatly benefit Japan to have a wider range of choices in what ethanol is used in their ETBE production,” said Michael Dwyer, chief economist for the USGC, who focuses on ethanol export strategy.

“With US ethanol significantly less expensive than Brazilian ethanol, having it qualified for inclusion in Japan’s policy should reduce the cost of purchasing ETBE from the US or producing ETBE in Japan.”

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Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.